y.

"Given att our Mannor of Whites-hall, the seacond of
February, and in the first of our Raigne.

"This proclamation being read and set up in the great hall, the Prince
called for his officers and servants about him, charging every man
carefully to execute his office. First the steward and buttler (who
for their auncient fidelity kept their places according as they had
long before beene appointed by the Colledge) were commaunded to bring
their bookes, and by them to call up all the howse, whereupon (every
one beeing first charged to aunswere to his name) it presently
appeared who were present and who were absent.

"After this the Master of the Revels and the Knight Marshall were
willed to appoint severall sportes that no man might bee seene idle
upon payne of the Prince's high displeasure whereupon presently some
went to cardes, some to dice, some to dauncing, every one to some
thing.

"Not long after, for more variety sake, there was brought in a maske;
the devise was sudden and extempore, videl: a little page attired in
his long coats, with these six verses which were spoke as soone as he
entered the hall.

"These are six carpet knights, and I one page
Can easily bring in six that bee of age,
They come to visite this your highnes court,
And if they can, to make your honour sport.
Nay, this is all, for I have seene the day
A richer maske had not so much to say.

"After these maskers had finished the measures, and some few other
daunces, the said page waved them forth with his wan, and spake these
two verses:

"There are three they say would shew you an anticke,
But when you see them, you'll thinke them franticke.

"Then there came in three in an anticke which were well attyred for
that purpose, and daunced well to the great delite of the beholders.

"After these had stollen away one by one, as the manner is, it pleased
the Prince to aske what was a clocke, it beeing aunswered almost
twelve hee presently called in for supper. But first the bill of those
which were before noted to bee absent was called, to see whether any
of them would yet appeare, and the Prince would deale favourably with
them. It was also examined whether any of those which were present
before were now gon to bed, and accordingly authority was given by the
Prince to the marshalls of the hall and other officers to search the
chambers for sleepers, and where they made aunswere to aske the reason
of their